Two piece interchangeable deck fitting



May 6, 1958 W. J. SEM OLIC TWO PIECE INTERCHANGEABLE DECK'FITTING Filed Aug. 13, 1956 INVEN TOR. WAL 75R SEMOL /c A TTOR/VE Y United States Patent TWO PIECE INTERCHANGEABLE DECK FITTING Walter J. Semolic, Meriden, Conn.

Application August 13, 1956, Serial No. 603,695

1 Claim. (Cl. 114218) My invention relates to marine hardware, and is directed more particularly to a two-piece interchangeable deck fitting for boats.

It is common practice to make boat fittings such as cleats, mooring bits, chocks, flag sockets, water ski tow posts, etc. of unitary construction. Oftentimes, a plurality of difierent types of fittings are required one at a time at the same place or approximately the same place on a boat deck such as the bow 'or stem. This necessitated screwing the two or more individual fittings required side-by-side on the deck, which is not only costly, but also spoils deck appearance.

It is accordingly the principal object of my invention to provide an interchangeable two-piece deck fitting for boats, expecially pleasure boats, which comprises a common base member and a plurality of different, exchangeable boat fitting heads which may selectively be assembled to the base member as needed from time to time.

Another object of my invention is to provide a twopiece interchangeable boat fitting set, of the character described, which is easy to assemble and disassemble in changing from one type of fitting to another, which is sturdy and neat in appearance in use, and which is foolproof and long wearing in operation.

Various other features, advantages and objects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, which shows, by way of example, two preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates, in perspective, an exploded view of a two-piece deck cleat embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an assembled two-piece chock constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 3 is a top view of the base member of the twopiece deck fittings shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the same.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral indicates a base member and the numeral 11 a cleat structure or head adapted to be secured selectively as needed, to said 2,833,240 Patented May 6, 1958 vided with a plurality of spaced, countersunk holes 13 for receiving fastening screws. Integrally formed with the bottom portion 12, is a square upstanding central support post 14 having a pair of aligned circular, inwardly extending wall recesses 15 for securing the selected fitting head, as is hereinbelow more fully described. According to the invention, the base member 10 will be common to a plurality of different fitting heads such as the cleat structure 11 shown in Fig. 1 and the chock structure 16 shown assembled to the base member 10, in Fig. 2. To this end, each of the fitting heads (11, 16) is provided with a central, upwardly extending square opening 17 complementary to the support post 14 of the base member 10, and operative to snugly fit thereon.

For readily securing the selected fitting head structures in place, they are each furnished with opposed, inwardlyextending set-screws 13 operative to enter the respective circular recesses 15, and thus lock the selected fitting head in place, as illustrated by the chock structure 16, shown secured in place on a common base in Fig. 2.

Operation In use, the common base structure 10 will be secured at the desired location on the boat deck, and the head structures such as the cleat 11 and the chock 16 will be selectively assembled and secured to the base structure as needed, by fitting them individually upon the support post 14, and then tightening the set screws 18 into the post recesses 15.

One advantage of my invention is that a plurality of different boat deck fittings as individually needed from time to time, at a particular location of a boat deck, can be had without spoiling the deck appearance by using a plurality of diflerent individual fittings.

Another advantage resides in thecomparative inexpensive way in which a plurality of deck fittings can be provided as compared with the use of individual fittings.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in shape or proportion, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent is:

A demountable boat deck fitting set comprising a flat substantially rectangular base member, means for securing said base member to the deck of a boat, said base member having an upstanding square central post provided with a horizontal inwardly extending recess in one face thereof, an upper head member having an interior square vertical cavity shaped to non-rotatably fit upon said post, and a horizontal set screw passing through the outer portion of one side of said head member, fitting into the horizontal recess in said post for detachably locking said head member upon said base member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Murray June 8, 1869 

